Anmore residents will go to the polls on Sept. 22 in a byelection to replace former Coun. Tim Laidler.

Laidler resigned last month because he said he did not agree with the method in which the village selected its new chief administration officer. He stated that the process was not transparent and that the person chosen, Tim Harris, was not qualified for the job.

The resignation came seven months after Anmore residents went to the polls in the general civic election, and whoever wins the fall vote will have more than two years left on their term.

Last month Mayor Heather Anderson said she was disappointed and shocked with Laidler's decision to resign.

A byelection is expected to cost the village between $8,000 and $9,000, the equivalent of a 1% property tax increase.

Last month Laidler sent a letter to council stating he believed that "outside influences" interfered with Harris' selection.

"I have come to the conclusion that I am unable to support a CAO/Approving Officer who was not selected on the basis of best practices, higher education and extensive relevant previous experience," he said. "I also expect a selected candidate to have taken college level courses pertaining to municipal government."

When contacted by The Tri-City News, he said he could not get into specifics because the issues were discussed during an in-camera meeting.

More to come...

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